Grade Selection for Plastics

DuPont Ti-Pure titanium dioxide

DuPont Ti-Pure titanium dioxide

How to Select a Suitable Ti-Pure Titanium Dioxide Grade

Selecting a suitable titanium dioxide grade for an application will depend on

resin type and processing conditions, as well as finished product performance
requirements. This section describes the performance of Ti-Pure titanium
dioxide grades in major resin systems and identifies properties important
to that application.

Polyolefins
With few exceptions, most polyolefin
applications involve preparing a TiO2
concentrate by batch or continuous
compounding before reducing the
concentrate into the finished product. In
this regard, ease of dispersion, resistance
to yellowing, and optical properties
are important performance properties.
For thin-film and extrusion-coating
applications, dispersion performance and
resistance to lacing and discoloration at
elevated processing temperatures are of
major concern.
Ti-Pure R-350 provides superior
performance in polyolefins. It has high
opacity strength, very blue undertone,
exceptional processing and dispersion
in highly loaded concentrates. Its unique
surface treatment provides additive
discoloration resistance and moderate
durability while also being highly resistant
to lacing.

Ti-Pure R-103 provides high tinting

strength with a very blue undertone.
It has excellent dispersibility and
discoloration resistance in polyolefin
applications. R-103, however, is not as
resistant to lacing as R-101, R-104
or R-350. When using liquid color to color
polyolefins, R-103 is the best choice.

Ti-Pure R-105 and R-960 are preferred in

systems where maximum weatherability
is required. R-105 has improved
dispersion and processing versus R-960
when used in polyolefin concentrates.

Ti-Pure R-104 provides the high tinting

strength and very blue undertone
desired in many applications. Its organic
treatment provides optimum processing
and rheology for producing very highly
loaded concentrates. R-104, like R-101 and
R-350, is highly resistant to lacing.

Optical Properties of DuPont Titanium Dioxide

Tint Strength
110

Ti-Pure R-101 exhibits outstanding

screenpack performance and is highly
resistant to lacing. These properties make
R-101 an ideal choice for high temperature
extrusion-coating applications.

R-350
R-104

R-103

R-101
Strong
105

R-105

Undertone

100
0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

Blue
95
5 g TiO2 per 153 g black PVC

R-960

High shear dispersion, two roll mill

90

Figure 1. Optical properties of DuPont titanium dioxide shows the relationship between
tint strength and undertone for a number of grades of DuPont titanium dioxide.

Table 1. Plastics Grades TiO2 Physical Properties:

Grade
Property
TiO2, wt%, min.

R-101

R-103

R-104

R-105

R-350

R-960

97

96

97

92

95

89

Alumina, wt%, max.

1.7

3.2

1.7

3.2

1.7

3.5

Silica, wt%, max.

N/A

N/A

N/A

3.5

3.0

6.5

Organic Treatment

hydrophilic

hydrophilic

hydrophobic

hydrophobic

hydrophobic

N/A

Color CIE L*, min.

97.9

97.8

97.5

98.5

98.5

98.5

Specific Gravity

4.2

4.1

4.2

4.0

4.1

3.9

Vinyl Tint Strength

110

110

110

105

110

90

Vinyl Undertone

0.005

0.035

0.030

0.010

0.030

0.030

pH

8.5

6.5

N/A

N/A

N/A

7.4

Resistance, min.

2.0

4.0

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.0

Notes: Unless noted, values are typical. Resistance is reported as the minimum value in k ohm-cm. Test methods used to determine the values reported are available
from your TiO2 sales or technical service representative.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride
R-103 provides the optimal performance
in flexible PVC and PVC plastisols. The
blue tint and high strength of R-103
provides excellent optimal performance.
The alumina surface treatment of R-103
provides good dispersion and good shelf
stability in plastisols.
Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride
Selecting the optimal grade of DuPont
Ti-Pure titanium dioxide for rigid vinyl
applications depends on the intended
use of the product and the type of heat
stabilizers used in the PVC compound to
protect the resin.
Ti-Pure R-101 and R-103 grades can
be used in white profiles intended for
exterior applications such as building
siding and window profiles, where
controlled chalking is desired, primarily
in tin stabilized systems. These grades
encompass the full optical range of
blueness available for these products.
R-103 is the recommended grade due to
its bluer tint versus R-101.
Ti-Pure R-105 is the recommended grade
for high gloss exterior white products
using all types of heat stabilizers. The
dense silica surface treatment of R-105
minimizes chalking, providing excellent
gloss retention. R-105 has strong opacity
strength and very good bulk flow.
Ti-Pure R-960 is the recommended
grade for exterior tinted products such
as building siding, regardless of the heat

stabilizer system used. As with R-105, its

dense silica surface treatment minimizes
chalking, which is perceived as color
fade in tint products. The lower opacity
strength of R-960 versus R-105 gives
significant savings in color toner cost for
PVC exterior products where high TiO2
loadings are needed for UV protection.
Some organic lead stabilized compounds
pigmented with untreated TiO2 grades
may experience lead graying on outdoor
exposure. For compounds containing such
stabilizers, Ti-Pure R-103, R-105, R-350,
or R-960 are recommended. While R-103
and R-350 will not catalyze lead graying,
they will surface chalk at a greater rate
than R-105.
For PVC pipe and general-purpose
applications, TiO2 grade selection is based
largely on optical performance. R-103,
with its high tinting strength and very blue
undertone, is the recommended grade.
R-101, R-103 and R-104 are approved by
NSF for plastic pipe applications.

ABS and ABS Blend Polymers

Among TiO2 pigments key performance
attributes, optical properties, thermal and
UV stability, and mechanical property
retention are considered to be most
critical. Higher tinting strength and
bluish-white undertone color help to
produce brighter and whiter appearance
and can also positively impact the
mechanical properties. Because higher
tinting strength TiO2 can be used at
lower loadings, the mechanical property
degradation of the polymer is minimized

and the TiO2 pigment economy is

improved, resulting in raw material
cost savings.
R-350 is designed to provide optimum
bright blue optics, thermal and UV
stability, and impact strength retention
which ABS and ABS blend polymers
value most. R-105 and R-960 have been
valued for the applications requiring
maximum thermal stability during polymer
melt processing and long-term weather
resistance during use.

Other Engineering and Performance

Polymers
Thermal stability, melt-rheology stability,
chemical reactivity, and polymer
mechanical property influence of a TiO2
pigment are the most crucial attributes
of a TiO2 pigment for these very high
processing and end use temperature
polymers. For PC blended with ABS
(or with other suitable polymers)
Ti-Pure R-103 is preferred. When
durability is required Ti-Pure R-105 is
suggested. Polyamide product selection
depends on the desired end use color,
compound formula, processing methods
and equipment. For these applications
Ti-Pure R-103, R-104 or R-105 can be
considered. Please consult your local
DuPont sales representative for additional
application information.

DuPont Ti-Pure titanium dioxide

How to Select a Suitable Ti-Pure Titanium Dioxide Grade

Table 2. Application Guide For Plastic End Uses:

Capsule Summary

Grade

Finished Product

R-101

R-103

R-104

Cast Film

High-Temperature Cast Film or Extrusion Coating

R-105*

R-350

R-960*

Polyethylene/Polypropylene
Injection Molding
Blow Molding
Blown Film

Exterior, Durable*

Liquid Colorants

Ti-Pure titanium dioxide grades are the

most widely used rutile pigments in the
plastics industry. As described in previous
sections, grade selection will depend on
desired performance requirements for your
specific application. A summary of Ti-Pure
titanium dioxide properties in plastics is
provided in Tables 1 and 2. Information
about Ti-Pure titanium dioxide grades can
also be obtained from the DuPont web
site: www.titanium.dupont.com

PVC
Interior, Rigid
Exterior, Chalking

Exterior, Nonchalking
Flexible

Plastisol
Lead-Stabilized Systems
Pipe**

ABS
Polystyrene

Polycarbonate
Polyamide

Polyester
Thermoset (PES)
Preferred grade for application
Grade fully usable for application

* Grades R-105 and R-960 are maximum durability grades and recommended for all
applications that require extended outdoor service life.
** Grades R-101, R-103, R-104, R-105, R-900 and R-902+ are listed with the
NSF International for plastic pipe use.

The information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and

based on technical data that DuPont believes to be reliable. It is
intended for use by persons having technical skill, at their own
risk. Because conditions of use are outside our control, we make
no warranties, express or implied, and assume no liability in
connection with any use of this information. Nothing herein is
to be taken as license to operate under or a recommendation to
infringe any patents

Copyright 2013 DuPont. All rights reserved.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont, The miracles of science
and Ti-Pure are registered trademarks or trademarks of
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

H-88383-9 (04/13) Printed in the U.S.A.

www.titanium.dupont.com